IGCSE Outline Plan of Teaching
Fourth Year
Autumn Term
Theme 2 – The Natural Environment – Earthquakes and Volcanoes (4 weeks)
Topic:
2.1 Earthquakes
and volcanoes
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe the main types and
features of volcanoes and
earthquakes
Further details:
Types of volcanoes (including
strato-volcanoes [composite cone]
and shield volcano)
Features of volcanoes (including
crater, vent, magma chamber)
-
Describe and explain the
distribution of earthquakes and
volcanoes
-
Describe the causes of
earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions and their effects on
people and the environment
Demonstrate an understanding
that volcanoes present hazards
and offer opportunities for
people
Explain what can be done to
reduce the impacts of
earthquakes and volcanoes
An earthquake
A volcano
-
-
Case Studies
required in 2.1
-
Features of earthquakes (including
epicentre, focus, intensity)
The global pattern of plates, their
structure, and an awareness of
plate movements and their effects
– constructive/divergent,
destructive/convergent and
conservative plate boundaries
Theme 2 – The Natural Environment – Rivers (4 weeks)
Topic:
2.2 Rivers
Candidates should be able to:
- Explain the main hydrological
characteristics and processes
which operate within rivers and
drainage basins
Further details:
Characteristics of rivers (including
width, depth, speed of flow) and
drainage basins (including
watershed, tributary, confluence)
Processes which operate in a
drainage basin (including
interception, infiltration,
throughflow, groundwater flow,
evaporation, overland flow)
-
-
-
Demonstrate an understanding
of the work of a river in eroding,
transporting and depositing
Describe and explain the
formation of the landforms
associated with these processes
Demonstrate an understanding
that rivers present hazards and
offer opportunities for people
Forms of river valleys – long profile
and shape in cross section,
waterfalls, potholes, meanders,
oxbow lakes, deltas, levees and
flood plains
Causes of hazards including
flooding and river erosion
Opportunities of living on a flood
plain, a delta or near a river
-
Case Studies
required in 2.2
-
Explain what can be done to
manage the impacts of river
flooding
The opportunities presented by a river, the hazards associated with it
and their management
Paper 4 – Rivers – Osmington Bay booklet (1 week)
Theme 2 – The Natural Environment – Coasts (4 weeks)
Topic:
2.3 Coasts
Candidates should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding
of the work of the sea and wind
in eroding, transporting and
depositing
- Describe and explain the
formation of the landforms
associated with these processes
Further details:
Cliffs, wave-cut platforms, caves,
arches, stacks, bay and headland
coastlines, beaches, spits and
coastal sand dunes
-
-
-
Case Studies
required in 2.3
-
Describe coral reefs and
mangrove swamps and the
conditions required for their
development
Demonstrate an understanding
Hazards including coastal erosion
that coasts present hazards and
and tropical storms
offer opportunities for people
Explain what can be done to
manage the impacts of coastal
erosion
The opportunities presented by an area of coastline, the hazards
associated with it and their management
Paper 4 – Coasts - Studland ( 1 week)
Spring Term
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Tourism (4 weeks)
Topic:
3.4 Tourism
Case Studies
required in 3.4
Candidates should be able to:
Further details:
- Describe and explain the growth
of tourism in relation to the main
attractions of the physical and
human landscape
- Evaluate the benefits and
disadvantages of tourism to
receiving areas
- Demonstrate an understanding
that careful management of
tourism is required in order for it
to be sustainable
- An area where tourism is important
Paper 4 – Tourism – Weymouth ( 1 week)
Theme 1 – Population and Settlement (6 weeks plus 2 weeks – see below)
Individual class teachers will decide whether to teach Population OR Settlement as the MAIN
topic for this section and they will teach that topic over a 6 week period. The essentials of the
other topic will be taught to help with preparation for Paper 2 & 4 and this will be taught
over a 2 week period after Easter.
Population
Topic:
1.1 Populaton
dynamics
Case Studies
required in 1.1
Topic:
1.2 Migration
Case Studies
required in 1.2
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe and give reasons for the
rapid increase in the world’s
population
- Show an understanding of overpopulation and under-population
- Understand the main causes of a
change in population size
Further details:
Causes and consequences of overpopulation and under-population
How birth rate, death rate and
migration contribute to the
population of a country increasing
or declining
Impacts of social, economic and
other factors (including
government policies, HIV/AIDS) on
birth and death rates
-
Give reasons for contrasting
rates of natural population
change
-
Describe and evaluate
population policies
A country which is over-populated
A country which is under-populated
A country with a high rate of natural population growth
A country with a low rate of population growth (or population decline)
-
Candidates should be able to:
- Explain and give reasons for
population migration
-
Demonstrate an understanding
of the impacts of migration
-
An international migration
Further details:
Internal movements such as ruralurban migration, as well as
international migrations, both
voluntary and involuntary
Positive and negative impacts
should be considered, on the
destination and origin of the
migrants, and the migrants
themselves
Topic:
1.3 Population
structure
Case Studies
required in 1.3
Topic:
1.4 Population
density
Case Studies
required in 1.4
Candidates should be able to:
Further details:
- Identify and give reasons for and Age/sex pyramids of countries at
implications of different types of different levels of economic
population structure
development
- A country with a high dependent population
Candidates should be able to:
Further details:
- Describe the factors influencing
Physical, economic, social and
the density and distribution of
political factors
population
- A densely populated country or area (at any scale from local to
regional)
- A sparsely populated country or area (at any scale from local to
regional)
Settlement
Topic:
1.5 Settlements
and service
provision
Case Studies
required in 1.5
Topic:
1.6 Urban
settlements
Candidates should be able to:
- Explain the patterns of
settlement
- Describe and explain the factors
which may influence the sites,
growth and functions of
settlements
- Give reasons for the hierarchy of
settlements and services
-
Further details:
Dispersed, linear, and nucleated
settlement patterns
Influence of physical factors
(including relief, soil, water supply)
and other factors (including
accessibility, resources)
High-, middle- and low-order
settlements and services. Sphere of
influence and threshold population
Settlement and service provision in an area
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe and give reasons for the
characteristics of, and changes
in, land use in urban areas
Further details:
Land use zones including the
Central Business District (CBD),
residential areas, industrial areas
and the rural-urban fringe of urban
areas in countries at different levels
of economic development
The effect of change in land use
and rapid urban growth in an urban
area including the effects of urban
sprawl
-
Case Studies
required in 1.6
Topic:
1.7 Urbanisation
Case Studies
required in 1.7
-
Explain the problems of urban
areas, their causes and possible
solutions
Different types of pollution (air,
noise, water, visual), inequality,
housing issues, traffic congestion
and conflicts over land use change
An urban area (including changing land use and urban sprawl)
Candidates should be able to:
- Identify and suggest reasons for
rapid urban growth
- Describe the impacts of urban
growth on both rural and urban
areas, along with possible
solutions to reduce the negative
impacts
-
Further details:
Reference should be made to
physical, economic and social
factors which result in rural
depopulation and the movement of
people to major cities
The effects of urbanisation on the
people and natural environment.
The characteristics of squatter
settlements
Strategies to reduce the negative
impacts of urbanisation
A rapidly growing urban area in a developing country and migration to
it
Summer Term
The essentials of either Population or Settlement will be taught for 2 weeks to help with
preparation for Paper 2 & 4, depending on which topic was not taught before Easter.
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Industry (4 weeks)
Topic:
3.3 Industry
Candidates should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding
of an industrial system: inputs,
processes and outputs (products
and waste)
- Describe and explain the factors
influencing the distribution and
location of factories and
industrial zones
Further details:
Industry types: manufacturing,
processing, assembly and high
technology industry
The influence of factors including
land, labour, raw materials and fuel
and power, transport, markets and
political factors
Their combined influences on the
location, scale of production,
methods of organisation and the
products of the system
Industrial zones and/or factories
with respect to locational and siting
factors
Case Studies
required in 3.3
-
An industrial zone or factory
The first part (in bold) of Theme 3 – Economic Development – Food Production will be taught as it
links to Industry
Topic:
3.2 Food
production
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe and explain the main
features of an agricultural
system: inputs, processes and
outputs
-
Recognise the causes and effects
of food shortages and describe
possible solutions to this
problem
Further details:
Farming types: commercial and
subsistence; arable, pastoral and
mixed; intensive and extensive
The influence of natural and
human inputs on agricultural land
use. Inputs including natural inputs
(relief, climate and soil) and
human inputs (economic and
social). Their combined influences
on the scale of production,
methods of organisation and the
products of agricultural systems
Natural problems which cause food
shortages (including drought,
floods, tropical storms, pests) along
with economic and political factors
(including low capital investment,
poor distribution/transport
difficulties, wars)
The negative effects of food
shortages, but also the effects of
food shortages in encouraging food
aid and measures to increase
output
Case Studies
required in 3.2
-
A farm or agricultural system
A country or region suffering from food shortages
Fourth Year Exam – Duration 1 hour 30 minutes
Additional skills paper in class time
Osmington Bay Field trip – July
Fifth Year
Autumn Term
Theme 2 – The Natural Environment – Weather (3 weeks)
Topic:
2.4 Weather
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe how weather data is
collected
Further details:
Describe and explain the
characteristics, siting and use made
of a Stevenson screen
Rain gauge, maximum-minimum
thermometer, wet-and-dry bulb
thermometer (hygrometer),
sunshine recorder, barometer,
anemometer and wind vane, along
with simple digital instruments
which can be used for weather
observations; observations of types
and amounts of cloud
-
-
Make calculations using
information from weather
instruments
Use and interpret graphs and
other diagrams showing weather
and climate data
Theme 2 – The Natural Environment – Climate and Natural Vegetation (5 weeks)
Topic:
2.5 Climate and
natural
vegetation
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe and explain the
characteristics of two climates:
- Equatorial
- Hot desert
Further details:
Climate characteristics (including
temperature [mean temperature of
the hottest month, mean
temperature of the coolest month,
annual range]; and precipiation [the
amount and seasonal distribution])
Factors influencing the
characteristics of these climates
(including latitude, pressure
systems, winds, distance from the
sea, altitude and ocean currents)
-
-
Case Studies
required in 2.5
-
Describe and explain the
characteristics of tropical
rainforest and hot desert
ecosystems
Describe the causes and effects
of deforestation of tropical
rainforest
An area of tropical rainforest
An area of hot desert
Climatic graphs showing the main
characteristics of temperature and
rainfall of the two climates
The relationship in each ecosystem
of natural vegetation, soil, wildlife
and climate
Effects on the natural environment
(both locally and globally) along
with effects on people
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Food Production (2 weeks) remainder of Food Production unit
(in bold in table below) to be taught
Topic:
3.2 Food
production
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe and explain the main
features of an agricultural
system: inputs, processes and
outputs
-
Further details:
Farming types: commercial and
subsistence; arable, pastoral and
mixed; intensive and extensive
The influence of natural and human
inputs on agricultural land use.
Inputs including natural inputs
(relief, climate and soil) and human
inputs (economic and social). Their
combined influences on the scale of
production, methods of
organisation and the products of
agricultural systems
Recognise the causes and effects Natural problems which cause
of food shortages and describe
food shortages (including drought,
possible solutions to this
floods, tropical storms, pests)
problem
along with economic and political
factors (including low capital
investment, poor
distribution/transport difficulties,
wars)
The negative effects of food
shortages, but also the effects of
food shortages in encouraging
food aid and measures to increase
output
Case Studies
required in 3.2
-
A farm or agricultural system
A country or region suffering from food shortages
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Development (5 weeks) To be completed after
Christmas
Topic:
3.1 Development
Candidates should be able to:
- Use a variety of indictors to
assess the level of development
of a country
-
-
-
Case Studies
required in 3.1
-
Identify and explain inequalities
between and within countries
Classify production into different
sectors and give illustrations of
each
Describe and explain how the
proportions employed in each
sector vary according to the level
of development
Describe and explain the process
of globalisation, and consider its
impacts
Further details:
Indicators of development
(including GNP per capita, literacy,
life expectancy and composite
indices e.g. Human Development
Index (HDI))
Primary, secondary, tertiary, and
quaternary sectors
Use of indicators of development
and employment structure to
compare countries at different
levels of economic development
and over time
The role of technology and
transnational corporations in
globalisation along with economic
factors which give rise to
globalisation
Impacts at a local, national and
global scale
A transnational corporation and its global links
Skills (Paper 2) paper sat in a lesson before Christmas
Spring Term
January. Trial examination main paper. Duration 1 hour 45 minutes
students to answer three questions (1 from each Theme)
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Energy and Water (4 weeks)
Topic:
3.5 Energy
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe the importance of
non—renewable fossil fuels,
renewable energy supplies,
Further details:
Non-renewable fossil fuels
including coal, oil and natural gas.
Renewable energy supplies
nuclear power and fuelwood;
globally and in different
countries at different levels of
development
-
Case Studies
required in 3.5
Topic:
3.6 Water
-
Case Studies
required in 3.6
Evaluate the benefits and
disadvantages of nuclear power
and renewable energy sources
Energy supply in a country or area
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe methods of water
supply and the proportions of
water used for agriculture,
domestic and industrial purposes
in countries at different levels of
economic development
-
-
including geothermal, wind, HEP,
wave and tidal power, solar power
and biofuels
Explain why there are water
shortages in some areas and
demonstrate that careful
management is required to
ensure future supplies
Water supply in a country or area
Further details:
Methods of water supply (including
reservoirs/dams, wells and bore
holes, desalination)
The impact of lack of access to
clean water on local people and the
potential for economic
development
Theme 3 – Economic Development – Environmental Risks of Economic Development (3
weeks)
Topic:
3.7
Environmental
Risks of
Economic
Development
Candidates should be able to:
- Describe how economic activities
may pose threats to the natural
environment, locally and globally
-
Case Studies
required in 3.7
-
Further details:
Threats to the natural environment
including soil erosion,
desertification, enhanced global
warming and pollution (water, air,
noise, visual)
Demonstrate the need for
sustainable development and
management
Understand the importance of
resource conservation
An area where economic development is taking place causing the
environment to be at risk
Summer Term


Paper 2 & 4 preparation
Revision